Radio New Zealand - All Programmes

Psalm 23 The Lord's My Shepherd has been set to many different tunes. John Campbell, a 19th century Scottish merchant and amateur musician, wrote the very cheerful setting you can hear in today's programme.

Tensions persist in New Caledonia; The scramble to find the victims of the landslip in Papua New Guinea; The New Zealand Budget comes up short for Pasifika; Some landowners in Bougainville are suing Rio Tinto over the Panguna mine, and Tonga's parliament says no to the death penalty for drug crimes.

All the top stories and other headlines from the day

Everyone can name one teacher who left a lasting imprint but only a few can say that teacher encouraged them to follow their true path. Rodger Fox was one of those, a band leader, trombonist extraordinaire, recording artist and big picture thinker. Broadly described by those who loved him as a 'yes' man, Fox's zest for life rubbed off on many. Earlier this week the 71-year-old musician died, following a short illness, in Palmerston North. Since then, there has been an outpouring of grief for a man who opened doors for all in New Zealand's jazz music community. Rodger Fox founded his Big Band in 1971. In those five decades as band leader, he built a wide network abroad and brought hundreds of New Zealand musicians overseas to perform. Those players would go on to make connections internationally when Fox requested American jazz heavyweights like drummer Steve Gadd, saxophonist Adam Schroeder, trumpet player Jon Papenbrook and guitarist Larry Koonse to play with the big band. Rodger Fox received an honorary doc

We cross to Gore, the country music capital of Aotearoa, and where hundreds of amateur country musicians of all ages have travelled to compete for the coveted NZ Gold Guitar trophy this weekend. RNZ reporter Jogai Bhatt reports on the music, the buskers, and the art of cheese roll making.

The top stories and other headlines at midday

We're heading to Gore, where the Gold Guitar Awards are in full swing as part of the Tussock country festival. It's one of New Zealand's most prestigious country music events, drawing contestants from around the world to converge on the Southland town to celebrate country music and compete for a chance at the top prize. We'll talk to RNZ's Samuel Robinson who's in town, soaking up the music, learning how to line dance and make cheese rolls. Plus we'll catch up with Kiwi country singing legend Jodi Vaughan who is being inducted into the hands of fame.

Since launching his YouTube channel four years ago, Max Miller has amassed more than two million of subscribers - all tuning in for his videos that fuse history lessons with a cooking show. Neither a trained chef or historian, Los Angeles-based Miller fell into the world of being a YouTuber when he was furloughed from his job at Disney due to the Covid pandemic. His videos, which are thoroughly researched and well-produced, span thousands of years and all four corners of the globe - and even delve into the outer space culinary experience. Some of his most popular videos include "Making Medieval Mead like a Viking", "Dining First Class on the RMS Titanic", and "Macaroni Cheese from 1845". Some of his recipes have even been collated into a cookbook, Tasting History: Explore the Past through 4,000 Years of Recipes, which was released last year.

Donald Trump is a convicted felon. A New York jury found him guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels. He intends to appeal, and major Republican donors say they're willing to back him still, despite his criminal record, but what does Trump's guilty verdict do for the Republican Party's hopes for re-election? American political commentator and 2016 Republican candidate Lenny McAllister joins Susie from Pensylvannia.

A phenomenon that hasn't occurred since 1803 is in full swing. Trillions of periodical cicadas are emerging in a rare double event. Brood XIX and XIII are either above ground, or emerging in 17 states, from Chicago through the Midwest. It's the first time in 221 years that these two broods have come above ground in the same place at the same time. Professor of biology at George Washington University, John Lill and his research team are in Chicago observing birds and other species feasting on a cicada banquet, which is changing their diet and causing much disruption to the food chain. John Lill has written about the consequences of this shift in avian foraging in Science.

A "miserable" moment on the banks of Lake Wakatipu was the initial inspiration for Matt Heath's new book A Life Less Punishing: 13 Ways To Love the Life You've Got. The radio host and writer tells Susie Ferguson we all have the power to change our own mindset for the better.

Some of the world's humanitarian crises are well known - Gaza and Ukraine for example - but many more are less likely to make international news: Chad and Sudan. One of the organisations operating wherever there is conflict is Médecins Sans Frontières or Doctors Without Borders. It's working in a world emerging from the covid pandemic, with inflation rampant and people increasingly disconnecting from bad news. MSF's International President, Dr Christos Christou is a trauma surgeon with extensive experience working in warzones.

If you're feeling sadder as the days get shorter, you're not alone. Around half the population report feeling less happy in winter and 5 percent fall into serious depression. Apart from nutrition and exercise, getting more light in your eyes is the best treatment we know for seasonal mood challenges, says NZ-born neurobiology researcher Anna Wirz-Justice.

The latest RNZ Pacific news and sport

Thousands of people rallied across the country on Thursday to protest the coalition government's policies - including axing the Maori Health Authority, removing local councils' right to set up Maori wards, removing reference to Te Tiriti o Waitangi in legislation, and the Act Party's bid to redefine the Treaty principles. Julia Whaipooti is a leader at Te Kahui Tika Tangata, the Human Rights Commission. Her opinion piece argues Budget 24 disadvantages Maori financially and falls short of the Crown's te Tiriti obligations.

The shameful treatment of pioneer women footballers 50 years ago is the subject of a new documentary Copa 71, which is screening now. Rapturous crowds of over 100,000 fans cheered 18 year old Carol Wilson as she captained England at the 1971 women's football World Cup in Mexico. The experience was a stark contrast to the reception she and other women players received at home. The UK Football Association, which had banned women from playing for 50 years, refused to endorse the tournament and tried to shut it down. To this day the team Carol represented is not recognised by the FA as an official England team, which has earned them the moniker of 'The Lost Lionesses'.

The latest RNZ Pacific news and sport

This morning's top stories and other headlines

The latest RNZ Pacific news and sport

The latest news in Niuean language (Vagahau Niue) - brought to you by our partner - Pacific Media Network.